Litter pollution is deteriorating across Ireland, with cigarette butts and chewing gum remaining the primary sources of contamination, according to new government research released today.
The 2024 National Litter Pollution Monitoring System found that almost 60% of all surveyed areas contained some level of pollution, representing a 3% increase from the previous year. The comprehensive study involved 5,579 litter pollution surveys conducted nationwide as part of an annual monitoring project.
Clean areas continue to shrink, with fewer than 20% of surveyed locations classified as unpolluted, a decline of over 2% since 2023. Moderate pollution levels have also risen by 2%, affecting more than 17% of areas examined.
Minister of State for the Circular Economy Alan Dillon warned of the need to “remain vigilant” against increasing litter levels, though he welcomed progress in one category. Significantly polluted areas decreased to 3% of all locations surveyed, down 2.8% from 2023.
However, grossly polluted areas, while remaining low, showed concerning growth. These severely contaminated locations increased by 0.1% to 0.6% of all surveyed areas in 2024.
The research identified passing pedestrians as the primary source of litter pollution, accounting for 39.4% of all rubbish found. Passing motorists ranked as the second major contributor, while retail outlets, gathering points, leisure areas, fast food establishments, schools, and bus stops also emerged as significant sources.
Illegal dumping represented a relatively small proportion of the problem at 2.6% of total litter discovered. The most common items found remained unchanged from 2023, with chewing gum and cigarette ends topping the list, followed by sweet wrappers and vape-related waste among the top ten debris categories.
Minister Dillon emphasized that addressing the problem requires “a collective effort from regulatory bodies, communities and individuals” as Ireland grapples with worsening litter pollution across the country.